OTTAWA, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Canada on Thursday expanded enhanced screening and monitoring measures t
OTTAWA, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Canada on Thursday expanded enhanced screening and monitoring measures to vacationers arriving from South Africa, citing the rise of a extra infectious variant of COVID-19 in that nation, much like one which has emerged in the UK.
This follows a transfer on Wednesday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to increase to Jan. 6 a ban on passenger flights arriving from Britain, citing the variant. It additionally introduced added screening for vacationers from Britain.
No circumstances of the variant have been present in Canada to this point, Well being Canada stated in a launch, noting it had examined over 25,000 samples.
“All vacationers who’ve been in the UK or South Africa throughout the interval of 14 days earlier than the day on which they search entry into Canada might be topic to secondary screening and enhanced measures,” Well being Canada stated.
These measures embody “elevated scrutiny of quarantine plans,” it stated.
Canada additionally up to date journey advisories for each the UK and South Africa to advise further warning. Well being officers proceed to advise towards all non-essential worldwide journey.
Canada has to this point reported 528,354 circumstances of COVID-19, together with 14,597 deaths.
The federal government individually introduced on Thursday that the primary doses of the Moderna Inc MRNA.O COVID-19 vaccine had arrived in Canada. It authorised the vaccine on Wednesday and stated it expects 168,000 doses by finish of 12 months.
(Reporting by Julie Gordon in Ottawa; Enhancing by Cynthia Osterman)
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